Installation of a generator for a house.

davezawadi (David Stone):

Whilst I see one or two useful points, small generators do not need or have sump heaters, nor does your diesel car, which I assume will start tomorrow. Very large machines may, even here but the reason is not freezing but that they are very hard to turn over with batteries at the best of times when cold. A 5MVA machine needs a ton of batteries of very high capacity and of course voltage. Usually, very large machines such as those on ships usually have air starting, or a smaller generator to provide the starting power. It is certainly unnecessary on a 5kVA type which everyone thinks would suit, although I think the same money on a 30 or 40 kVA silent one would be much better value and 100 times more useful and reliable.


Going on to CPDs, a 5kVA machine would probably stall on a ring short before it popped a type B, and you will certainly have no circuit overload protection. You probably don't need it either working from a generator. You will need an RCD as Earth faults also will not trip the CPD, I suggest a 300mA delayed one at the generator. You can put what you like in the CU, The PSCC on a 5kVA generator is probably only 50 or 60A at the terminals. This is simply because the engine cannot give much power, and any flywheel will be very small. Stalling is the most likely outcome of any problem.

Hello David...


I'm certainly getting some great feedback, on here!


You're probably right, re; the 30 or 40 kva... 


It's interesting to read so many suggestions and I guess I'll aim for the middle of the road, approach?


Thanks!

 

davezawadi (David Stone):

Whilst I see one or two useful points, small generators do not need or have sump heaters, nor does your diesel car, which I assume will start tomorrow. Very large machines may, even here but the reason is not freezing but that they are very hard to turn over with batteries at the best of times when cold. A 5MVA machine needs a ton of batteries of very high capacity and of course voltage. Usually, very large machines such as those on ships usually have air starting, or a smaller generator to provide the starting power. It is certainly unnecessary on a 5kVA type which everyone thinks would suit, although I think the same money on a 30 or 40 kVA silent one would be much better value and 100 times more useful and reliable.


Going on to CPDs, a 5kVA machine would probably stall on a ring short before it popped a type B, and you will certainly have no circuit overload protection. You probably don't need it either working from a generator. You will need an RCD as Earth faults also will not trip the CPD, I suggest a 300mA delayed one at the generator. You can put what you like in the CU, The PSCC on a 5kVA generator is probably only 50 or 60A at the terminals. This is simply because the engine cannot give much power, and any flywheel will be very small. Stalling is the most likely outcome of any problem.

Hello David...


I'm certainly getting some great feedback, on here!


You're probably right, re; the 30 or 40 kva... 


It's interesting to read so many suggestions and I guess I'll aim for the middle of the road, approach?


Thanks!